Proverbs 4:1, 2: It's been given.

Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, and give attention to know understanding; For I give you good doctrine: do not forsake my law. Proverbs 4:1, 2

Hear: hear with attention, interest, listen to

Instruction: chastening, correction

Give attention: cause to hearken, give heed, incline, to prick up the ears

Know: absolute have knowledge, be wise

Understanding: the object of knowledge, discernment

Good: (ethical), right, of God

Doctrine: teaching, object, as thing taught

Forsake: fail to follow, obey advice, instruction, wisdom, reproof

Law: direction, instruction

What was the last gift you received? We all enjoy receiving gifts. Some are thoughtful gifts. Some are funny or gag gifts which make us laugh. Some gifts are for special occasions/holidays. Some are spur of the moment, just because gifts. 

No matter the reason for the gift, we take the gift, open it and respond. 

We are give a very precious gift—wisdom, sound solid instruction. How we respond to that gift speaks a lot about us and our desires. If we accept the gift and treasure it, putting it to good use and obey it—our lives will be filled with peaceful refreshment (Proverbs 3:8). 

Accept the gift—it's been given. Yet, only when my heart is permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG), will I hear and accept what is given. For when I have a fear and respect for God, I will want to accept His instruction and wisdom and obey the truth. 

It's been given. Will you accept it?

Proverbs 3:7, 8: Do Be. Will Be.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil.

It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones. Proverbs 3:7, 8

Do be: exist, abide, remain, continue

Not: to express with emphasis its negation (NO!!)

Wise: shrewd, crafty, cunning

Your own eyes: think best, of mental and spiritual faculties

Fear: reverence, honor

Depart: turn aside, out of one's course

Evil: ethical evil

Will be: fall out, come to pass, become, result

Health: healing

Flesh: body

Strength: drink (figurative for refreshment)

Bones: as representing entire person = one's whole being, including physical and moral

Do Be. Will Be. 

Often we see people out shopping, and we stop and say to ourselves, "Did that person even look in a mirror before they left the house?" We see one thing, and that person saw another. 

We don't always see ourselves honestly. We see ourselves in the way we want to be, not what we actually are. We tend to put ourselves the best light possible. Who wants to admit that we aren't wise, and good, and..... the list goes on. 

Yet, trying to be wise based on our own cunning crafty ways is just plain foolishness. Do Be. The fact is that we will BE, exist in someway. The question is how will be "Do Be"? Will be "Do Be" based on our own shrewd and cunning ways to get what we want and try to survive? Or will be "Do Be" based on the fear of God and His sovereign and holy wisdom? 

Do Be. We will exist. That's a fact. The choice clear—oneself or God.

Will Be. The Result is also clear. Fearing God has a greater result as it will result in healing refreshment to the body and soul. When the soul is at peace with God, then one's whole being is refreshed—pure peace from God Himself. 

If I want to enjoy the end result of refreshment from God, then my heart must first be permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Act 9:31 MSG). And as my heart is set to fear God, my "Do Be" will be in accordance with God and the end result will be peaceful refreshment.

Refresher of Hearts

If you are looking for the posts about

God's Amazing Blessing Announcement—I'm moving!

here's the link to the first Part: 

http://createapositiveday.blogspot.com/2015/05/announcement-part-1-im-moving.html

Then follow the arrows at the bottom of each post to the next Part.

There are 10 parts in all.

I recommend that you read each part, there are amazing details—

and God took care of each and every one! 

______________________________________________

This post is the continuation of my study of Philemon.   

I, Paul, write it with my own hand, I promise to repay it [in full]—and that is to say nothing [of the fact] that you owe me your very self! Yes, brother, let me have some profit from you in the Lord. Cheer and refresh my heart in Christ. Philemon 1:19-20 (AMP)

“Refresh” - ἀνάπαυσόν anapauson- means “to give rest to, to give repose, to free from sorrow or care;” and the sense is, that by receiving Onesimus, Philemon would cause the deep and anxious feelings of Paul to cease, and he would be calm and happy. 

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

Cheer and refresh my heart. Do my actions cheer and refresh the hearts of others? That would be an awesome daily goal—be a refresher of hearts! 

How does one be a "refresher of hearts"? 

Well, first and foremost, it all begins with a relationship with Christ. Then that relationship with Christ must impact one's daily life and relationships with others  (Colossians 3; Put On). And as that relationship with Christ impacts relationships with others, then one can be a "refresher of hearts". 

Refresher of hearts. 

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed andrestored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]. James 5:16

To be a "refresher of hearts", my own heart must be permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG). 

Knowledge Upon Knowledge

  If you are looking for the posts about

God's Amazing Blessing

Announcement—I'm moving!

here's the link to the first Part: 

http://createapositiveday.blogspot.com/2015/05/announcement-part-1-im-moving.html

Then follow the arrows at the bottom of each post to the next Part.

There are 10 parts in all. 

I recommend that you read each part, there are amazing details—

and God took care of each and every one! 

______________________________________________

 This post is the continuation of my Study of Colossians.

And have clothed yourselves with the new [spiritual self], which is [ever in the process of being] renewed and remolded into [fuller and more perfect [knowledge upon] knowledge after the image (the likeness) of Him Who created it. Colossians 3:10 (AMP)

Renewed, knowledge upon knowledge, ever in the process of being, continually progressing, in a state of growth and development, it is a continual refreshment.

Often I'm amazed that people think that once you place your faith in Jesus Christ, you should instantly know everything about God and His Word. It doesn't happen instantly. 

Think of it this way, you wouldn't teach a kindergartener calculus or physics, they don't even know how to count or read. But as they learn a skill and facts, then you can teach them more difficult things. Knowledge builds on knowledge. Learning is a continual process. 

The same applies to spiritual knowledge and learning about God Almighty. Knowledge upon knowledge, a continual refreshment of learning about Who God is, what He did/does, and how He wants me to live. 

The second part of this verse is the goal of growing in knowledge—the image of Him Who created it; God almighty. Now, that does not mean that I can become God with enough knowledge. Rather that I'll act in accordance with Him. The more I learn, the more I act on that knowledge the more my life will be a reflection of God. 

Having a heart that is permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31; MSG), is only possible when I commit to a continual refreshment of knowledge upon knowledge!

Fill my Cup!

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 16. Here is what I learned.

The Lord is my inheritance and my cup. You are the one who determines my destiny. Psalm 16:5 (GW)

You, Eternal One, are my sustenance and my life-giving cup. In that cup, You hold my future and my eternal riches. Psalm 16:5 (VOICE)

Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine. Psalm 16:5 (NLT)

"The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup." With what confidence and bounding joy does Jesus turn to Jehovah, whom his soul possessed and delighted in! Content beyond measure with his portion in the Lord his God, he had not a single desire with which to hunt after other gods; his cup was full, and his heart was full too......

He is our portion, supplying all our necessities, and our cup yielding royal luxuries; our cup in this life, and our inheritance in the life to come. As children of the Father who is in heaven, we inherit, by virtue of our joint heirship with Jesus, all the riches of the covenant of grace. The Treasury of David

The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance. The meaning here is, that Yahweh was the being whom the psalmist worshipped as God, and that he sought no possession or comfort which did not proceed from him.

And my cup. The idea here is this: "The cup that I drink - that cheers, refreshes, and sustains me - is the Lord. I find comfort, refreshment, happiness, in him alone; not in the intoxicating bowl; not in sensual joys; but in God - in his being, perfections, friendship."

Thou maintainest my lot - Thou dost defend my portion, or that which is allotted to me. The reference is to what he specifies in the following verse as his inheritance, and he says that that which was so valuable to him was sustained or preserved by God. He was the portion of his soul; he was the source of all his joy; he maintained or preserved all that was dear to his heart. Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Cheers, refreshes, and sustains me.... I find comfort, refreshment, happiness.... in God—in His being, perfections, friendship. Wow. The source of my refreshment and sustaining happiness is God. He is the eternal spring of life, that continues to supply the cool refreshing joy that only God can give. 

To create a positive day, I need to make sure my “cup” is emptied of all the false fillers the world gives and allow God to fill my cup with His blessings! 

Counting the Blessings

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 67. Here is what I learned.

God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall reverently fear Him. Psalm 67:7 (AMP)

God is the source of our blessings; may every corner of the earth respect and revere Him. Psalm 67:7 (VOICE)

God shall bless us,.... The Holy Spirit blesses with regenerating and renewing grace; with faith, comfort, joy and peace, by shedding abroad in the heart the love of the Father and the Son; by applying precious promises; by testifying adoption; by making meet for heaven and happiness, and working up for the selfsame thing eternal glory. Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible 

God shall bless us - He shall ever be speaking good to us, and ever showering down good things upon us. Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Being blessed by God provides an overwhelming sense of peace. Since surgery, I have to say that although my body is in extreme pain, and I can’t get comfortable, I find myself smiling. For God has blessed me with not only His love, but He continues to send gifts along the way to remind me of His love and that He “knows what I like”. 

Last week, a person sent me a book which she thought I’d enjoy. Now, this person did not know I was having surgery when the book was sent, but God knew that having a new book to read would be perfect following surgery. 

The afternoon, I arrived home from my surgery, I had an email waiting telling me that I won a contest. I won a Larry Dixon Al-Anabi 2010 Champ 1:24 Autographed Top Fuel Dragster NHRA Die cast. It will look great on my Sports Wall. 

Then the past few days, my Ponder Morsels for each day have been awesome for what I needed to focus on and remember. God blessed me with truths to keep my soul refreshed. 

God blesses me in so many ways, and as I think about each blessing, I can easily smile in spite of the pain I feel. 

Counting the blessings God sends my way is not only an easy way, but it’s the best way to create a positive day!